# Priority Bicycles: Dave Weiner

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-11-13
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner

## Summary

Dave Weiner, founder of Priority Bicycles, explains how he pivoted from a software CEO role to build a low-maintenance bike featuring a carbon fiber belt drive and aluminum frame. He details the chaotic execution of a successful Kickstarter that yielded 1,500 orders, leading to customs delays and fulfillment errors, and describes how the company scaled by adding models like the commuter bike and securing B2B hotel partnerships. Weiner also discusses navigating supply chain whiplash during the pandemic, recent industry sales slowdowns, and his recovery from a severe bike accident while maintaining the company's growth.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=0) Introduction: Dave Weiner and Priority Bicycles
- [4:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=251) Dave's Early Cycling Passion and Software Career
- [13:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=814) Concepting the Low-Maintenance Belt Drive Bike
- [21:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=1301) Sourcing Components and Prototyping in Taiwan
- [35:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=2125) The Kickstarter Campaign and PR Strategy
- [44:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=2676) Fulfillment Chaos: Customs Delays and Labeling Errors
- [49:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=2940) Product Failures: The Kids' Bike and Commuter Pivot
- [54:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=3298) Scaling Manufacturing and Hotel Partnerships
- [59:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=3559) Pandemic Supply Chain Whiplash and Recent Slowdown
- [1:04:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-13-priority-bicycles-dave-weiner#t=3859) Dave's Bike Accident and Company Resilience

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Priority Bicycles (company)
- Giant (company)
- Specialized (company)
- Trek (company)
- Carbon fiber belt drive (product)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Viceroy Santa Monica (company)
- Van Moof (company)

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- [389: Blobs Are Not Stressful](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful) (Embedded.fm)
- [Founder Feature: Hannah Perez of SEEQ Supply](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-09-13-founder-feature-hannah-perez-of-seeq-supply) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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